Knitting machine



March 5,' 1946. T. s. HAYHuRsT 2,395,816

- KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 1:5, 1944 16 sheets-sheet 1 March 5,194,6., fr. s HAYHURST KNITTING MACHINE 'Filed April 15. 1944` 1osheets-sheet s ...1 du |||||L 1 L o m m m anl... Il n n p i. Ll i JIS Snu i i l l .1

QNVL IL ATTORNE Mardi 5,

T. fs.' HAYHURsT KNITTING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April -13,1944 INVENTOR gomas S.

ATrORNEY B Q 8 l. w@

March 5, 1946. r. s. HAYHuRsT 2,395,815

xNllLTTI-NG MACHINE Filed April 1s, 1944 lO Sheets-Sheet 6 lNvl-:NoR lBzomas )51H01 karat fww A March 5, 1946. T. s. HAYHuRsT KNITTING MACHINEFind April 15, 1944 1o sheets-,sheet 7 March 5, 1946. T. s. HAY'HURSTKNITTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 1o sheets-sheet 9 T. s. HAYHuRs'Tv March' 5, 1946.-

v KNFTTING MACHINE Filed April 13, 1944 l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 lIl. r-l

4 INVENToR fig/omas S. Hay/zum# 'Patented Mar. s, 1946 Illhomas S.Hayhurst, BelleHarbor, N. Y.Iasslgnor y toMax NydeggexgSummit, N. J. e

Application April 13, 1944, Serial No.. 530,763 13 Claims. (Cl. (i6-63)The present invention relates to an improvement in knitting machines.

Objects of said invention have been to provide improved thread changemechanism for knitvting machines, more Iparticularly of the linkslinksor knit-purl type; to provide means for feeding the thread which involvea minimum amount of travel, thereby reducing friction and permitting thefree use of relatively more tender threads or yarns'than is otherwisefeasible; and to provide thread feedingdevices which in operationproduce a more continuous and uniform tension on the thread withresulting increased evenness of texture in the knitted product. Oneembodiment of my-invention in a form adapted for use with an automaticmultiple links knitting machine is described in thefollowingspecication-and illustrated in the drawings appended thereto and invwhich: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a knitting machine embodying theimproved thread change mechanism;

yFigure 2, an end elevation of the right end of the machine as shown inFigure l; Figure 3, a plan view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, showingportions of the thread feeder and brush carrier actuating mechanismspositioned rearwardly and at the right endof thel lmachine as shown inFigure 1;

' Figure 4, a horizontal section on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; y

Figure 5, an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 5-5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6, an enlarged transverse vertical section on the line 6-5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 7-,-a fragmentary view on the line 1-1 of Figure 6; Y

` atl its rear end and a bracket 51 on which latch Figure 8, afragmentary view partly in sec- I tion on'the line 8-8 of Figure 4showing a portion of the thread change control mechanism including thecontrol links inneutral position;

Figure 9, a top plan view of the devices shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10, a transverse vertical section on the line ill-'Ill of Figures3 and 4 showing more particularly parts employed in thread changing,

thread and brush carrier actuating and stitch cam actuating;

Figure 11, a fragmentary'. plan viewnwithvparts in longitudinal sectionon the line i I '|I of Fig- I ure 10 showing portions o f the threadchange .and lead change devices in relation ,to the stitch cam drive andthe lthread carrier and brush actuating devices in a course from left toright;

Figure 12, a fragmentary view in elevation-from the line l2-I2 of Figure10 of portions of the thread carrier drive, thread carrier selector; andassociated devices in position with a thread carrier rod operativelyengaged and moving toward change (dotted line) position at theleft;

Figure 13, a fragmentary view in elevation from the line I2--I2 ofFigure 10 showing the relative positions of certain parts at the threadchanging phase;

Figure 14, a detail- 20 and brush bars 22 are reciprocated insynchronized relation to stitch cam rods 40 and.

stitch cam assemblies as 34, 34a and 35, 35a,

Fig. 4, connected thereto by operation-of shaft I6 through suita'bleconnecting devices.

As seenmore clearly in Figures 3, 10 and 11, outer end portions of thebrush carrier bars 22 are secured to the spaced arms of a U-Shapedbracket 54 slidably supported on afitting 99" mounted to slide on a.longitudinally extending fixed bar 55. Fitting 99 also carries anactuating arm 56 having a longitudinal slot 62 open devices or 4keepersare mounted for engaging .and disengaging 'portions of the threadcarrier .bars 2 0. Thus, the brush bar actuating bracket 54 andthethread feeder carrying bar actuating bracket 5] are both operativelyconnected to and slidable with said actuating arm 56 which reciprocatesby operation of a chain 58 in unison with the stitch cam operating arm43 over intermediate portions of the latter's path. Said stitch camoperating arm 43 is actuated by a chain 55 driven'by sprocket 55 onspindle 65, Figure 4.y

- Reciprocating movement is imparted to said brush carrier and threadfeeder actuating arm 55 'by chain 58 through a driving'block 59 hav inga pintle 60 which pivotally engages a head 6|, Figures 10' and 11,mounted to slide in said undercut longitudinal open ended slot 62extending lengthwise of arm 56. -As shown in Figview in horizontalsection on the line |4-I4 of Figure 13; and

' ures 3 and 4 chain 5|! is mounted to be driven vided with end detentlugs |56 and |51 and a middl driving lug projecting upwardly and adaptedand positioned to be engaged and disengaged by suitable latch devices orkeepers mounted respectively on idling or detent latch carrying brackets|64 and |65, Figure 3, movable with control heads or bracket supports|52 and |52, and on the driving bracket 51 which is reciprocated withactuatingarm 56, Figure 3, be-

tween said brackets |64'and |55.

Head |52 is mounted on a portion of bracket 8| and head |53 on a portionofbracket. 5l, which brackets are simultaneously movable toward eachother-in narrowing and'from each other in widen- 1.0 eilect saidsimultaneous movements in narrowing land widening, a portion of a nut|55a secured to said bracket 5| is slidablyfmounted between the anges ofthe inverted U-shaped rail |56 and threaded on the screw shaft |55,Figure -10. Thus, when said screw shaft is'turned, bracket 8| is movedvlongitudinally thereon with said nut between one end (left, Figure 3)and an approximately middle point thereof, in a direction dependingonthe direction' ot rotation of said screw shaft. 'I'he thread on theright end portion oi' screw shaft |55 is pitched oppositely to that onthe left end portion and engages a similar nut secured to bracket 84, sothat, when said shaft is rotated in tashioning, -bracket 84 movessimultaneously with bracket )8i-but in .the opposite direction.

f 1 suitable means for controlling the time and direction of rotation ofsaid screw shaft |55 incident to widening and narrowing include thechain 055 and sprocket 658 on shaft 315, Figures 2,'3 and 4, actuated byVfashioning control means of which portions are there shown.

I'hread changes for all needle sections are made simultaneously bydropping one or more thread carriers from operation and picking up oneor more other thread carriers in each section. This -is accomplished atthe end o! any course'and at .all positions of the parts in widening andnarrowing by effecting appropriate connections and.

disconnections between said middle or drivelugs |5| oi the severalthread carrier bars 25 and keepers carried on the reciprocating drivingbracket 51 monted to moveD with arm 55- which drives said thread carrierbars along with" the brush carrier bars 22.

AThe adiustably mounted control heads |52-and.

53 cooperate with devices for controlling the operative change positionof the datent land drive lugs on carrier bars 20 and for actuating saididling brackets |65- and |65 respectively to bring the latches thereoninto' and out of operative ,detent lug engaging. position. Said idlingbrackets 4datent lugs |53 and llrespectively. Said lugs |55 are engagedby latches on bracket |013, at the left, Figure 3:- and lugs |51 by likelatches on the Ybracket |53, at the right, whereby corresponding threadcarrier bars are releasably held in inoper- |65 and |65 whichareslidably mounted on a either direction.

As shown in Figures 10, 12 and 13, when al thread carrier bar 20 isplaced in operation, the drive lug |6| thereon is releasably vengaged tomove (i. e. reciprocate) with driving bracket 51 by means of a pairoiaspringpressed lug engaging keepers '|58 mounted to slide verticallyin recesses extending through said driving bracket 51. Upper endportions of keepers |53 provide bearings for rollers |59; and springs|60, are interposed between bracket'51 and keepers |58 to bias thelatter downwardly in locking position and to an extent limited bystoppins |6| thereon.

As seen in Figures 3, 11, 12 and 13, brackets |52 and |63 which aresecured to the control heads |52 and |53 respectively, presenttransversely disposed -edge portions, as |62a on bracket |62, just abovethe thread carrier bars 20 and in position to engage the detent lugs |56andl |51 respective- 1y. These edges eilect adjustment and maintainalignment (Figures.12,13) of the detent lugs |50 on the thread carriersbars 20 with widening and narrowing movements of heads |52 and |53 andwith reciprocating movements of brackets |64 and in relation thereto.Proper operative relation is thereby maintained between the severaldetent and drive lugs of the carrier bars and thelatch or keeperdevicescooperating therewith.

The latch carrier bracket |64, left, in Figure 3, slidably mounted onbar 55, Figures i 5 and l1, moves with control head |52 and also haslimited reciprocating movement-relatively thereto. It is provided with acam roller |65 mounted on a stud |61, Figure 12. A closed cam |68 havingcam .iianges is mounted to rotate in head |52. Said cam is splined yon ashaft |09 having one portion iournaled in said head |52 and, anotherportion tent. A similar-cam roller engaging cam |10 op-V erates in likemanner. Thus, when shaft |69 is rotated 360, it simultaneously-.turnsclosed cams |63 and |10, atall positions oi heads 1,352 and |53. Theoblique of said coms |68 and |10, during 180 of their rotation, bearsimultaneously in opposite 'directions against their respective camrollers.

The eil'ectis to initially thrust said brackets |613 and |55 from normalretracted position, yFigure 12, to the extended or operative threadchange position shown'in Figure 13, and then back to fsaid normalposition in relation to heads |53 and |53 respectively. When saidbrackets are brought into extended position, the latch devices thereon.cooperate with the detente andlugs on the bars2|| and with otherinstrumentalities in veffecting athread change as hereinafter described.A

Shaft |59 is controllahly rotated one turn at predetermined times toeiect the above described reciprocating movement o1 bracketsl iSd-andIBB.

. For this purpose, inthe illustrated embodimenta sprocket |13 iixed onsaid shaft |63, Figure 2. is driven by a. chain @821mm a sprocket 633save position, i. e. not `connected to move with te srs-shown in Figures2, 6' anstehen-489e has through a hole in link |19 (Figure 11).

. end portion of rolling key 148, thereby holding clutch plate 141, andshaft |69a to which it is secured, disconnected from gearl 145 which isloose on-said shaft. However, when the incidence of perforations in thepattern control sheet 553, Figure 2, in proper relation to holesinpattern drum 554, effective through a link 103 or l 104, Figures 4, 8and 9, causes the thread change shaft 659 to rotate counter-clockwise apredetermined extent, Figure 6, the end of key.` 148 is released fromthe ar'm 149, and shaft -|69a is rotated one turn -with` a correspondingturn of main shaft 6. 4

'Ihe aforesaid thrust or reciprocation of idling brackets |64 and |65effected by rotation of shaft |69 is synchronized withthread carrier bardriving devices to effect any required thread change in accordance withthe operation of suitable control mechanism, such for example, as thatshown in part in Figures 8, 9.

As seen more clearly in `Figures 12, 13,l 14, an

undercut edge portion of bracket |64 presenting an inverted flange |14engages and supports a slide box 15. A latch lifting lever |16 havingrounded ends lis pivotally mounted on-,said box between posts |11.

Slide box |15 also carries a horizontally. extending pusher |18.positioned below and in vertical alignment With lever |16 and having`its freeend projecting beyond the adjacent end of said lever (Figures12, 14) at a level to pass above the detent lugs |56, |51, but to engagea drive lug 5| A link |19has one end pivotally connected at nected toslide freelyalong rod |8| which extends Rod |8 is supported between theends of spaced levers,

as |82, secured to and rocked by a shaft |83 havbrackets |64 and |65.One side of each latch plunger |84, Figures 12 and l13, is recessed be-rtween its ends at |86 to receive. one end of said lifting lever |16 "anda shoulder |81 extends from said side of latch plunger |84 just abovesaid recess |86. Acompression spring |88 mounted between/said shoulder|81 andan overlying portion of the carrier bracket |64 normally biasesthe latch p1unger.|84 downwardly.

As shown in Figures 11 and 13, the latch carrier bracket |64 is alsoprovided with akeeper lifting arm |89 extendingtoward driving bracket-51 and having a tapered end arranged and adapted (Figure 13) to engagerollers |59 on keeper |58 to lift the latter out of drive lug retainingposition. Thus, when the parts are in the relative `DOsitions shown inFigures 13 and 14, ine. with keeper |58 lifted, the drive lug |5|b,Figure 14,

last engaged thereby, is cleared by said keeper which, in raisedposition, Figure 13, is also ready to be'lowered behind the drive lug I5la, Figure 14,

of the newly selected bar 20. It will be understood that positioning,latching, releasing and controlling devices such as those abovedescribed inconnection with yhead |52 -are also associated with head |53(right, Figure 3) for a similar purpose and so 'that thread changes maybe'made at the end of any knitting stroke in either direction.

It is assumed for' the purpose of explaining the mode of operation ofthe improved thread change apparatus herein described that 'the controldevices have caused slide box |15 to move from neutral, Figure 11, to anoperative position on guide flange |14, in preparation for dropping athread carrier bar 28 and picking up another selected bar 2|). (Figure14.) This brings the pusher |18 into line operatively with the drive lug|5|a (so marked in Figure-14 for the purposes of this de- 40 the middleone of the ve thread carrier actuat- 'ing at its outer end, Figure 2, alever 651 connected to a lever 658 on thread change. control shaft 659,Figures 6 and 1, by a linkV 660.

Said shaft 659 is rotated from neutral -to any one of a number ofangular positions in response "to suitablecontrol devices, Figures 4, 8,9, to

move said box |15, and consequently' said latch lifter |16 and saidpusher |16 carried thereby,

transversely to any desired one of various opera-v tive positions alongsaid ange |14 of `bracket |64 to determine which thread carrier'bar orbars lare to be actuated and which tov be idled.

-In each of said several operative positions of box |15'the pusher |18is aligned to engage the drive lug |5|v of the one or more threadcarrier bars 2|! selected for operation in the next knitting course; andthe latch lifting lever |16 is in ment. The bottom end of each ysuchplunger is tapered to facilitate passage of said plunger if and as it ismoved inwardly across a-detent lug |56 orv |51 with inward movement ofthe carrier ing bars `20, and brings latch lifter |16 in line with themiddle one, as |84a of the latch plungers |84.

Driving bracket 51 completes its movement to- During this period andafter the above described positioning movement of slide box |15, shaft|69 is rotated one turn to cause the previouslyv described oscillationof carrier bracket I 64 from the position shown in Figure 12 to thatshown in Figure "13 and back.y During the initial portion thereof, thepusher |16 advances to the right and,

in so doing, moves'the drive lug |5|a aligned therewith into position,Figure 14;to be presently .engaged by the vraised keeper |58 on drivingbracket 51. i

The driving bracket 51 has oppositely extend ing arms |96 which presentrdownwardly directed cam surfaces |90a positioned and adapted toengageanddepressthe exposed rounded vend of lifting lever |16, whenfsaid carrierbracket |64 is advanced tothe vright from its position, as shown inFigure '12, toward driving 4bracket 51 while the latter is in its leftend or change position, shown dotted Figurev 12. This: rocks lever |16asshown in Figure, 13, thereby raising its other rounded end to engagetheiunder side of a shoulder |81 to lift the middle one, |84a, ofvlatchplungers |84, Figures 13 and 14, against compression spring. |88

so thatthe lower end of-said plunger |84a may `pass freely abovetheupper end o f said d etenty lug |56 when carrier bracket |64 is returnedfrom said extended or change position (Figure13) t0 normal retractedposition (Figure 12). This return movement takes place just before thenext stroke of driving bracket l1 to the right.

During said forward and return movements of bracket i, the other fourlatch plungers |84 thereon remainbiased in operative down position. Theyare therefore set,- on forward movement, to engage the detent lug,|561), Figure 14,

'for example, on the bar 2|) lately free to move totracted position, thetapered end of/lifting arm |88 is disengaged from roller |59, whereuponkeeper |58 returns to a down or latching position in relation to thenewly engaged drive lug lila. On the next movement of driving bracketv51 to the right (Figure 11), the thread carrier bar 20 corresponding toand carrying` said engaged drive lug |5|a is brought into operation.

It will be noted that the middle latch plunger lila and the one belowit, as shownlin Figure 14, are contiguously arranged; By moving slidebox i'llito a slightly less advanced or lower-intermediate operativeposition than that as shown in said figure', the inner end'of latchlifter. |16 may simultaneously engage bothsaid latch plungers;

and the outer end of pusher |18 engages corresponding adjacent drivelugs |5|, so that when bracket |64 is advanced and retracted as abovedescribed, two thread carrier bars` 20 are brought into operationtogether. as for plating or reinforcing.

The mode of operation above described applies as well to the partshaving similar functions located at the right (Figure 3) andthreadchanges may be made as desired at either end of the travel path ofdriving bracket 51 in accordance with piredetermined settings ofsuitable control deces.

My improved thread change apparatus as above described provides a sturdyand reliable mechanism which is also flexible and adaptable to knittingmachines whether single or multiple emploving various types of drivingand, widening and narrowing devices and involving full or partialautomatic control. i

The above described mechanisms are also shown anddescribed but notindepend ntly claimed in my co-pending application Seria No. 530,761 ledherewith and of which the present application is in effect a division.

I claim;

l. In a knitting machine having a'stitcli cam actuated by( areciprocatable stitch cam carrier, means including a reoiprocatable armv for driving means, means for releasing said bars from said retainingmeans, and means for releasably connecting said released bars inoperative relation to said thread feeder-driving arm.

`3. In a knitting machine having a stitch cam actuated by areciprocatable stitch cam carrier,

means for driving said stitch cam carrier, and a plurality of threadfeeders arranged and adapted to dispose different threadsin advance ofsaid stitch cam, the combination oi' a plurality of slidably mountedsupports for said several thread feeders, means for releasably retainingsaid supports in inoperative position including a separate springpressed latch for each support. a reciprocatable thread feeder drivingmember operatively connected to said stitch cam driving means andmovable toward and from said 'support retaining means, a spring pressedkeeper for releas- .ably connecting said supports to said drivingmember, latch actuating means movable into and out of operative relationto said spring pressed latches, means for moving said latch actuatingmeans to displace one of said latches and thereby free a thread feedersupport from said retaining means, and means cooperating with saiddriving member to lift said hoeper and thereby to release ,w anotherthread feeder support therefrom 4and movable away from said drivingmember to permit said keeper to engage and retain said first mentionedsupport in -operative connection with for periodically moving saiddriving means to and i from a change over position in relation to saidsaid stitchscam carrier, and a plurality of thread feeders arranged andadapted to dispose different threads in advance of said stitch camhecombination of a plurality of slidably mounted bars for supporting saidseveral thread feeders, a reclpro.

' stitch cam carrier driving nieans.` and means for releasablyconnectingsaid slidablymounted bars in operative relation t'osaidlthread feeder driving arme: Y 2. In a knitting machine having a stitch.cam

actuated by `a reciprocatable stitch cam carrier,

detent means, means for moving saidA set of latches to and fromA changeover position in relation to said driving means, and means forselectively conditioning one or more of said latches to release. acorresponding support or supports from said detent means.

.5. In a knitting machine having a plurality of thread feeder supportingbars, detent lmeans for retaining said bars in idle position, means fordriving said bars and means for'moving said bar driving means to andfrom. change over position in relation lto said detent means, the.combination of vmeans for moving said datent means to and from changeover position, and means operatively interposed between said detentmeans and said driving means to releasably connect and disconnect saidbars in relation to said detent means and said driving means while thelatter is at said change over position.'

6. In a knitting machine havingA a plurality of threadfeeder supportingbars.' .datent means for retaining said bars in idle position includingo set of detent latches, means for driving said bars including a keeper,and means for moving said bar driving means to and from achange overposition in relationto said detent means, the I combination of means formoving said detent means to and from change over position, and meansoperatively interposed between said detent means and said driving meansto .releasably connect and disconnect said bars in relation to saiddetent latches and said keeper while the driving means is at saidchange` over position.

7. In thread change mechanism for knitting machines having widening andnarrowing devices and wherein different threads are supplied to theneedles in knitting by different' thread feeders which,V are supportedon bars mounted for'endwise sliding reciprocation and a selected one, ormore of said bars is actuated to feed thread while others of said barsare releasably. held in idle position, the'combination of meansoperatively connected with said widening and narrowing devices fordriving said thread feeder carrying bar, detent means operativelyconnected with said widening and narrowing devices for releasablyholding said other bars in idle `position, said driving means includinga keeper arranged and adapted to releasably engage apportion of saidbar, and said detent means including a latch arranged and adapted toreleasably engage another portion of said bar, and means for actuatingsaid keeper and said latch.

8. In thread change mechanism for knitting machines having widening andnarrowing devices and wherein different threads are supplied to theneedles in knitting by different thread feeders which are supported onbars mounted for endwise sliding reciprocation and a selected one, ormore' of said ba'rs is actuated to feed thread while others of said barsare releasably held in-idle position, thecombination of meansoperatively connected with said widening and narrowing devices fordriving said thread feeding bar, detent means for actuating one or moreof said latches to release one or more of said bars when said bracket.is moved into thread change position.A

l 10. In thread change mechanism for knitting machines having wideningand narrowing devices and wherein diiierent threads are supplied to theneedles in the needle bed by different thread feeders which aresupported on bars mounted for sliding endwise reciprocation toward andfrom thread change position, and a selected one, or more, of said barsisactuated to feed thread Awhile others of said bars are releasablyretained in idle position, the combination `of a carrier bar actuatingarm, v a `drivingI lug on each bar, a keeper mounted on said arm toreleasably engage said lug, ,and means for actuating said keeper todisengage said lug when said 'bar and said arm are in vthread changeposition.

11. In thread change mechanism forknitting machines having widening andnarrowing devices and wherein different threads are supplied tothe'needles in the needle bed by different thread feeders which aresupported on bars mounted to slide toward and from thread changeposition;

anda selected one, or more, of said bars is actuated to feed threadwhile others of saidbars are releasably retained in idle position, thecombination of a carrier bar actuating arm, a driving y bar and said armare in thread change position,

means operatively connected with said widening and narrowing devices forreleasably holding said other bars in idle position, said driving meansincluding a keeper arranged and adapted to releasably engage a portionof said bar, and said detent means including a set of latches arrangedin a row,V a slidably mounted latch lifter, means for moving said lifterinto and outv of position along said row to lift any selected one ofsaid set of' latches, means for actuating said keeper, and means foractuating said lifter inany one of its several latch lifting positions.

9. In thread change mechanism for knitting machines having widening andnarrowing devices and wherein different threads are supplied to theneedlesin the needle bed by different thread feeders which are supportedon barsv mounted for sliding endwise reciprocation toward and fromthread change position, and a selected one, -or more, of said bars isactuated to feedfthread while othersof said bars are releasably retainedin idle position, the combination of ,a movable head, means operativelyconnected with said widening and narrowing devices for varying theposition of said head, a carrier bar driving arm, means operativelyconnected with said widening and narrowing devices for actuating saidarmtoward and from said head, Va slidably mounted detent bracketarranged between said headjand said driving arm, means for moving saidbracket I away from said head into thread change position and towardsaidfhead into=bar retaining position, latches mounted on said detentbracket. and

and means for moving another bar into position for its lug to bereleasably engaged by said keeper` when the latter is actuated todisengage said other lug.

12. In thread change mechanism for knitting y machines having wideningand narrowing devices and wherein different threads are supplied to theneedles in the needle bed by different thread feeders which aresupported' on bars mountedv to slide toward and from thread changeposition; and a selected one, or moreo`f. said bars is actuated to feedthread during said sliding movement while others of said bars arereleasably retained in idle position, the combination of a movable head,a slidably mounted detent bracket l operatively connected to be movedwith said head,

a'cam actuating shaft, a cam slidably mounted thereon and rotatabletherewith and movable with said movable head, means operativelyinterposed between said cam and said detent bracket 'l and actuated byrotation of said cam to effect reciprocating movement of said bracketfrom its idle position to its thread change position and return, andlatches mounted on said bracket and arranged and adapted toreleasablyengage pormachines having widening and narrowing devices and 'whereindifferent threads are supplied to the .needles in the needle .bed bydifferent thread feeders which are supported on bars mounted to slidetoward and froml thread change positiorij and a selected one, or moreof` said bars is actuated to feed thread during said .sliding movementwhile others of said bars are releasablyretained-in idle position, thecombination of a movable head, a slidably mounted detent bracketoperatively connected to .be moved with isaid head, a camactuatingshaft, a cam slidably f :mounted thereon and rotatable therewith and 6 Igagnera movable with said movable headfmeansoperatively interposedbetween said camdandfald detent bracket and actuated by rotation of saidcam to eiect reciprocating movement of said bracket from its idleposition toits thread change position and return', latches mounted onsaid bracket and arranged and adapted to releasably engage portions ofsaid thread vfeeder carrying bars to retain the same when said bracketis in idle position and to release the same in its thread changeposition, a latch actuating member, means for adjusting the position o1said member in relation to said latches, and means vfor actuating saidadjusting means in advance of each movement of detent bracket from itsidle position to its thread change positionf THOMAS S. HAYHURST.

